The Ritz Hotel.
After checking in and getting Estefania settled, Steve lit a cigarette and walked straight out the door. He hailed a cab back to his old place, hopped into the BMW he had stolen way back when, and drove straight to 2119 North Wallace Street.
The Gallagher House.
Debbie, following Frank's instructions, had bought some meds and two joints. She sat obediently next to Frank, watching him with concern.
Frank took a deep hit of the joint. Instantly, his body relaxed. He felt euphoric. He turned his head slightly and smiled at Debbie. "My good daughter. I feel much better."
Debbie smiled happily. "That's good."
She hesitated for a moment, then decided to bring up the Peggy and Carl situation. "Dad, I want to tell you something. Is that okay?"
Frank was high and in a good mood. "Shoot."
Finally having someone to vent to, Debbie felt a little better and started pouring her heart out.
As Frank listened, a grin spread across his face.
What a great day!
That old hag is moving out?
Fantastic!
Frank wished Peggy would drop dead somewhere out there. Imagining that scene made him giddy. When Debbie finished, he immediately laughed. "Debbie, you're looking at this wrong. This is actually a good thing. You don't know that bitch Peggy like I do. Trust me, you don't want her treating you well..."
Frank's silver tongue went into overdrive.
Debbie didn't stand a chance. She was bamboozled, her head spinning, unable to say a word.
This went on for a while until a knock at the door snapped Debbie back to reality. She got up to answer it.
She opened the door.
Steve was standing there.
A second later.
Debbie's expression changed drastically. Her freckled face twisted with clear hatred!
She remembered how miserable Fiona was after Steve left without a word...
Even though she knew deep down that Fiona was in the wrong and that's why Steve left...
Family is everything.
Fiona was her sister. Steve was just some guy she barely knew.
As a Gallagher, naturally, she sided with family, logic be damned!
Slam!
Debbie slammed the door right in his face.
Steve genuinely didn't expect that. He stood there, stunned. "Debbie! I'm here for Fiona. Is she home?"
Debbie scowled and didn't answer. She stomped upstairs quickly and shook Fiona. "Fiona..."
Fiona was deep asleep with her eye mask and earplugs. No response.
Debbie pursed her lips and resorted to her secret weapon: tickling Fiona's feet.
It worked like a charm.
"What the fxxk!" Fiona kicked out reflexively, ripping off her eye mask and cursing.
Seeing Debbie, the groggy and grumpy Fiona sighed helplessly. "Someone better be dying."
Debbie's face fell. She shook her head gently. "Steve is here..."
Hearing that name.
Thump.
Fiona's body jolted. She was wide awake instantly. Her eyes flew open as she sat up. "Where is he?"
"Outside. I didn't let him in..." Debbie said weakly.
Fiona didn't say another word. She jumped out of bed and, wearing only her underwear, sprinted downstairs.
Watching this.
Debbie couldn't explain why, but she had a feeling that their peace was about to be shattered again.
---
Fiona liked Steve.
Before Steve left, she hadn't fully realized it. But after he was gone, it slowly dawned on her.
Because she liked him, Fiona ran barefoot all the way to the front door. On the way, she saw Frank puffing away on the sofa, but she didn't even have the energy to deal with him.
Creak.
At the door, Fiona took a deep breath and pulled it open.
Steve was still there. Seeing Fiona, he flashed a brilliant smile but didn't speak.
Fiona didn't know what to say either. She looked at him, feeling a little awkward.
They just stared at each other.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
"I'm back," Steve smiled. "Did you miss me?"
Fiona's heart trembled. The next instant, she stepped forward and kissed him.
A moment later.
Naturally, they moved to Fiona's room.
No words were needed. Everything was understood.
Fiona took the initiative, stripped Steve naked, tackled him onto the bed, and got to work.
Outside in the hallway.
Debbie, who had followed them up, listened to the sounds coming from the room with a worried face. Finally, she shook her head and walked downstairs helplessly.
---
Under the brilliant sunshine, the yacht Bianca was packed.
Carl was dazzled by the sight of one sexy beauty after another. He was about to lose his mind with joy. "Dexter, this is the happiest day of my life!"
Dexter was soaking in the hot tub. Hearing this, he knew exactly what Carl meant. He chuckled. "Then go make it even happier. Go on, see if you can pick up a girl."
"Can I?" Carl's eyes widened to the size of saucers. He asked in disbelief.
"Why not? Go for it," Dexter encouraged.
"I'm going in!" Carl didn't waste a second. He scrambled out of the hot tub, his face flushed with excitement as he began his 'hunt'.
Bianca, soaking next to Dexter, turned to look and said with a laugh, "Carl is only ten. Is that appropriate?"
Dexter chuckled. "It's not like he's actually gonna hook up with anyone. Let him have fun. He's a kid; let him be happy for once."
Bianca shook her head, smiling. "Is that really how you justify it?"
Veronica, also in the tub, chimed in with a laugh. "Bianca, Carl isn't a normal kid. He's fine."
Kevin, with a joint dangling from his mouth, grinned like a lovable idiot. "Dexter, maybe Carl will surprise you. That kid has balls of steel. He might actually cop a feel."
Hearing this, the very curvaceous Svetlana exhaled a puff of smoke. "I also think the kid can succeed."
Hearing that, Bianca looked at Svetlana, then looked down at herself, and felt that sense of crisis again.
Why are Svetlana's 'assets' so huge?
Why are mine so small?
It's distressing.
---
"Hey beautiful, I have a dangerous game I want to play with you. Interested?" Carl walked straight up to a gorgeous woman he had been eyeing. Without a hint of shyness, he tilted his head back, put on a cocky grin, and asked.
The woman looked down and burst out laughing. She found Carl oddly charming. "How old are you?"
"Ten!" Carl replied, seeing absolutely no problem with that.
"Haha, come ask me out in eight years," the beauty teased.
"Deal. I'll remember that. Now, how about a kiss to seal the deal?" Carl grinned seriously.
The beauty laughed so hard she shook. Then, she actually squatted down and planted a kiss on Carl's cheek, leaving a lipstick mark.
Carl: "!!!!"
Awesome!
So awesome!
"Thanks. See you in eight years," Carl replied with a bright grin, then walked away with swagger to find his next target.